Bale strapping apparatus



l July 21,1970 D, W, VAN DOORN ET Al. 5,521,550

BALE STRAP-PING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1968 v i 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 21, 1970 i D. w; VAN DQQRN ET AL 3,521,525() BALB STRAPPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 25, 1968 3 Sheotr-l-Sheet L:

BY f @021W Attar/:eys

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july 21, 1970 D, w, VAN DQQRN ET AL 3,521,550

BALE STRAPPING APPARATUS Filed sept. 25, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet l5 ASW@ Lsegjls SMF no @IX/O 0 f mwmw mnumnws `EMMEN/90N@ au.. Wwcmfm 2 mi ,n 44 Dwy B M 6 Mw w 0 l m 3 n, m W @N LS W R w [in oon uam? CH W l 3 1/ m mmm- M ci In ii w x1 4 United States Patent Office 3,521,550 Patented July 21, 1970 3,521,550 BALE STRAPPING APPARATUS Donald W. Van Doorn and William C. Pease III, Columbus, and Jack L. Colquett, Hamilton, Ga., Jack H. Tinkler, Phenix City, Ala., and Ted E. Huguley, Columbus, Ga., assignors to Lummus Cotton Gin Company, a corporation of Georgia Filed Sept. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 762,474 Int. Cl. B65b 13/ 04 U.S. Cl. 100-26 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for strapping and securing about bales, bundles, and the like a plurality of securing band or straps in which the band feeding and securing means is mounted for reciprocation alongside the package to be banded. Means is provided to cause the apparatus to position itself for feeding, successively or selectively, lengths of said material about the package, together with means to move the apparatus to a position removed from the package, whereby the package which has been banded may be discharged from the position where it was banded through the space formerly occupied by the band feeding and securing mechanism while it was placing such straps or bands about the package.

This invention relates to apparatus for banding packages, bundles, and bales of material. More particularly, our invention relates to the banding of bales of springy, fibrous materials such as cotton or man-made bers while the same are held under compression in a baling press.

An object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which the band feeding and tying mechanism is mounted for recprocation alongside the ber baling press, preferably on the door side thereof with the door in open position, whereby the package may be banded while being held under compression in the press box, the apparatus then shifted out of the way of the doorway, thus to discharge the bale through the open doorway through the space which the banding apparatus occupied while placing the bands about the package.

Another object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which means is provided accurately to position the strap or band feeding mechanism relative to the several sets of band guideways, thus assuring accurate feeding of the strap or banding material through the guideways, permitting the placement of a plurality of bands or straps at spaced positions along the package.

A further object of our invention is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which a package may be strapped with a plurality of straps, bands, wires, or the like and in which the total number of sets of guideways for such strapping material exceeds the number of band feeding mechanisms by at least one, namely, apparatus which, by way of example, may embody a plurality of sets of guides, spaced along the bale, whereby a single band feeding mechanism may be shifted to pass banding material selectively or successively through said guides.

Apparatus illustrating features of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational view illustrating the band feeding and securing apparatus in the inoperative or removed position, with a bale of compressed bers in the press box and with the door open, preparatory to beginning the banding operation;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus as shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail fragmental sectional view taken generally along line III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail fragmental view taken generally along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 and illustrating a portion of the positioning and centering means for the traveling band feeding and securing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed plan view showing a fragment of the slotted positioning bar and follower centering device, the latter being carried by the band feeding apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed fragmental view through a portion of one of the band feeding guides taken generally along line VI-VI of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 7 is a wholly diagrammatic wiring diagram.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of our invention we show the same associated with a somewhat conventional press box for forming bales of` fibrous material. Thus, the press box has the upper portion or beam 10, back wall 11, and a door 12 which may be pivoted at 13 to a central, supporting column 14. In the manner understood, a platen 16 mounted on a vertically reciprocal ram 17 is adapted to enter the press box, in the instance shown, from the bottom, whereby a mass of liber enclosed in a wrapper such as a kraftboard container may be compressed between the beam 10 and the platen 16. However, our invention is equally adapted for association with a down packing press. In the drawings, the bale is indicated by the numeral 18. Also, as will be understood, the loose material to form the bale 18 is fed into a charging chamber 19 located beneath the press box, while the platen 16 is in lowered position, whereby upon raising the platen the bale 18 is formed as illustrated particularly in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

While the bale is held between the beam 10 and the platen 16 under pressure it is desired to place a plurality of bands of strapping material about the bale. The number of such bands may vary depending upon several factors such, for instance, as the size of the bale, the compression of the bale, and so forth. In order to be able to provide apparatus which is flexible with respect to the number of bands which may be placed about any given bale, we provide a travelling strap feeding and band securing apparatus which is mounted for reciprocation alongside the press and which is indicated somewhat diagrammatically in the drawings by the numeral 21.

First, on the press box door side of the beam 10 we mount a track in the form of an elongated bar 22. A plurality of supporting and driving rollers 23 support the apparatus 21. Rollers 23 are anged and ride on the track 22. The lower end of the entire apparatus 21 may be supported by an idler roller 24 which simply runs against the side of the charging chamber 19 as shown in FIG. 3.

The entire apparatus 21, which may embody more or less conventional strap Ifeeding and securing means, may be reciprocated along the bale by means of a reversible electric motor 26 which drives the supporting and driving rollers 23 through a chain drive mechanism 27. Also, as will be understood, the bands are fed around the package by the apparatus 21 and securing clips 28 are fed to the apparatus from a roll 29 thereof. The strapping itself may be fed to the apparatus through a guide tube 31 erally by the numeral 32. These guideways have upper sections 32a, rear vertical sections 32b and separate, movable sections 32C. The sections 32a and 32b are mounted stationary to the press box while the sections 32C are mounted on the platen and are carried thereby. However, when the platen is in final bale compaction position section 32 is aligned with the lower curved end of a coacting section 32b. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 6 the guideways 32 are channel shaped with the open side facing the side of the bale to be secured. At 33 we show a pair of pivoted closure members or doors extending along a portion of the length of the openV side of the section 32b of the guide. The purpose of this construction will be explained later.

On the apparatus 21 are upper and lower band guides 34 and 36. When in position relative to the guideways 32, the lbanding may be fed through the upper guide 34, thereby to completely encircle the package, into guide 36, and into a severing, end securing and fastening section of the apparatus 21 which is illustrated diagramatically at 37.

In order to be sure that thel guide sections 34 and 36 always accurately align with the section 32a and 32C, we provide on the beam a horizontally disposed bar or positioning member 38. In the bar 38, on its outer edge, we provide a plurality of generally V-shaped notches 39a, 39b, 39C, etc. one notch for each band to be passed about the bale. Each of the notches 39a, 39b, etc. is positionally related to the guides 32 so that by the means presently to be described the apparatus 21 is positively and accurately positioned to feed banding material through the guide system. Another notch 41, to the left of the apparatus as viewed in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is provided to position and stop the apparatus 21 in the idle or removed position.

Mounted on the traveling banding or strapping apparatus 21 is a fluid pressure cylinder 42 having a piston rod 43. The rod 43 carries a roller 44 on its outer end and this roller is adapted, as will be explained, to enter the several V-shaped notches, thereby to position the apparatus 21 in proper relation to the guides for band feeding. It will be noted that the radius of the roller 44 is slightly larger than the radii of the bottom of the V-shaped notches. This assures accurate centering because the roller 44 never precisely Ibottoms in the notches.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, the wiring diagram, we have illustrated a circuit, greatly simplified, and which permits semiautomatic operation of our improved apparatus. It will be understood that in actual practice, through circuitry which as such forms no part of our invention the apparatus can be made automatically to proceed from one strapping position to another, or selectively to positions as desired.

First, we associate with each of the notches 39, 39a, 39h, switches indicated respectively as LS1, LS2, LS3, and so on. These are physically located so that when an operator `46, carried by the apparatus 21, engages the switches the shifting movement of the apparatus 21 will be halted and the rod 43 carrying the roller 44 will enter the appropriate notch, corresponding to the switch in question.

Assuming that the strapper unit 21 is located in its normal or removed position, that is, with the roller 44 resting in the notch `41, the press door 12 may be opened, to eject the bale. With the parts in the position just mentioned, when power is applied to the power supply lines L1, L2, cylinder 42 of the thruster is energized, causing its plunger to move toward the notch bar 38 thus to hold the roller 44 engaged in the notch 41, indexing the strapper head in bale discharge position. By depressing push button number 1, FIG. 7, control relay CR1 is energized and this relay locks itself in through its own contacts as illustrated and through station limit switch LS1. This action also deenergizes the thruster cylinder 42 by opening a normally closed relay contact CR-la, thus withdrawing the rod 43 and roller 44 from notch 41. The energization of CR1 also energizes the forward travel section of the reversible power motor means 26. This causes the strapping unit 21 to move toward the 39 series notches until its actuating cam 46 actuates limit switch LS1. This actuation deenergizes the control relay CRI which in turn stops the forward power means and at the same time energizes the thruster cylinder 42. Energization of the thruster cylinder 42 causes its rod 43 to extend toward the notch bar so that the roller 44 engages slot 39, thereby to align the strapper unit with the number 1 set of strapping material guideways in the baling chamber. It will be noted that when the roller 44 bottoms in any of the 39 series notches, the notches are deeper than the notch 41. We utilize this difference to initiate a strap cycle by closing ya switch for operating such apparatus, not shown, thereby to pass a strap about the package, in the conventional manner.

To apply additional straps, additional push buttons are manually actuated. For instance, by depressing push button number 2, thereby to energize and lock in the control relay CRZ, such action would deenergize the thruster cylinder 42, permitting it to withdraw the roller 44 from notch 39, energize the forward travel power means 26, and thereby move the strapper unit until the cam member 46 engages limit switch number 2. This would again deenergize the control relay CR2, cause the thruster to bottom the roller 44 in the notch 39a, and allowing another strap to be placed about the package. This sequence is continued until a desired number and positioning of the respective straps around the package is obtained.

When it is desired to remove or return the strapping mechanism to the notch 41, the return button, FIG. 7, is depressed. This energizes control relay CRO, which locks itself in and also deenergizes the thruster and energizes the return travel section of the reversible power means, that is, the reverse mechanism of motor 26 or similar drive means. The strapper unit 21 then returns to the at rest position where limit switch LS() is actuated, deenergizing control relay CRO, thereby removing power from the return travel power means and restores power to the thruster allowing it to engage the roller 44 in notch 41. This completes one cycle of the semi-automatic strapping operation.

It will be noted that when the straps are placed about the packages or bales through the guideways 32, the strap must be drawn from the guides, up against the rear side of the package. The pivoted sections 33 of the guides permit the strap to be pulled outwardly, that is, forwardly, as viewed in FIG. 3, thus to lie against the rear side or surface of the package or bale. When the bale is formed the ram is lowered and, by any suitable means the bale is ejected through the open door of the press where it may be carried away on rollers or the like 47.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved apparatus for placing `a plurality of straps about a bale, package or the like while resting on a baling or package forming station. Our apparatus is extremely compact, `and because of the fact that the number of sets of guides along any given package exceeds the number of strap feeding mechanisms Iby at least one, our apparatus can be shifted from one set of guides to another. Our apparatus thus is distinguished from those types of strapping devices which are pivoted to overhead supports or those which are shifted into and out of position by moving toward and Ifrom the guideways which surround packages at baling stations. We thus eliminate all of the attendant mechanical difficulties associated with the just mentioned types of strappers.

In actual practice our invention has proven to be eX- tremely practical and satisfactory. It lends itself, as stated, to complete automation whereby the closing of a single. switch may cause the apparatus to traverse from the'posltlon opposite notch 41 to any one of the strap posrtlons indicated 'by the notches 39, or to all of them, 1n sequence. While we show and describe fiat material for banding the bale, other forms such as wire may be used in which case the wire would be secured by twisting the ends thereof.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What we claim is:

1. In apparatus for banding a package of material,

(a) a package banding station,

(b) sets of banding material guideways embodying a pair of individual guideways located on opposed sides of the banding station, said sets of guideways being spaced from each other along the package,

(c) ibanding apparatus disposed to pass lengths of banding material through said sets of `guideways and around the package, and

(d) means to shift the banding apparatus from one set of guideways to the other thereof, whereby a plurality of spaced apart bands may be passed through said guideways and thus around said package.

2. In apparatus for banding a package of material,

(a) at least two sets of banding material guideways located on opposed sides of the package and spaced from each other along the package,

(b) a traveling band feeding and securing apparatus disposed to pass lengths of banding material successively through each set of said guideways and secure said lengths of banding about the package, and

(c) means to move said band feeding and securing apparatus from one set of guideways to the other.

3. For use in placing securing bands about packages of material while being held under compression,

(a) a plurality of sets of banding material guideways including guideways on opposed sides of said package, and

('b) a traveling band feeding and securing apparatus disposed successively to feed through said guideways an appropriate length of banding material and secure it, whereby the package may have placed thereabout at least two securing bands.

4. In apparatus for banding a package of material,

(a) at least two sets of banding material guideways located on opposed sides of the package and spaced from each other along the package, a traveling band feeding and securing apparatus disposed to pass lengths of banding material successively through each set of said guideways and secure said lengths of banding about the package, and

(b) said traveling strap feeding and securing apparatus being movable to a position completely out of alignment with the face of the package across which it travels so that the package may be removed from the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to said face of the bale which has just been banded.

5. In apparatus for banding a package of material,

(a) at least two sets of banding material guideways located on opposed sides of the package and spaced from each other along the package,

(b) a traveling band feeding and securing apparatus disposed to pass lengths of banding material successively through each set of said guideways, and secure said lengths of banding about the package,

(c) means to move said band feeding and securing apparatus from one set of guideways to the other, and

(d) said traveling strap feeding and securing apparatus being movable to a position completely out of alignment with the face of the package across which it travels so that the package may be removed from the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to said face of the bale which has just been banded.

6. For use in placing securing bands about packages of material while being held under compression,

(a) a plurality of sets of lbanding material guideways including guideways on opposed sides of said package,

(b) traveling band feeding and securing apparatus disposed successively to feed through said guideways an appropriate length of 'banding material and secure it, whereby the package may have placed thereabout at least two securing bands, and

(c) said traveling strap feeding and securing apparatus being movable to a position completely out of alignment with the face of the package across which it travels so that the package may be removed frorn the apparatus in a direction perpendicular to said face of the bale which has been banded.

7. In apparatus for placing bands about boxes, bundles, bales and the like,

(a) a station at which the package to be banded is placed,

(b) a plurality of sets of banding material guideways located on opposed sides of the package, said sets being laterally spaced from each other along the package,

(c) banding material apparatus mounted for reciprocation along the package and disposed, when in position, to pass appropriate lengths of banding material through said sets of guideways,

(d) lmeans to move the banding apparatus from set to set of said guideways, and

(e) means positionally related to each set of banding material guideways accurately to position said banding apparatus relative thereto, whereby the banding material fed by said apparatus is accurately fed through said sets of guideways and around the package.

8. The combination with a material packaging press of the type embodying a press box and a reciprocable platen 0r the like, of means to secure banding material about a package while in said press box and while the material therein is under compression, comprising:

(a) sets of upper and lower banding material guide members, one guide of each set being carried by the press box and the other thereof being carried by the reciprocable platen, said sets of guideways being spaced along the package to be banded,

(b) banding material feeding and securing apparatus,

(c) means mounting said apparatus for movement along the package into banding position relative to said sets of guideways, whereby said feeding and securing apparatus may be successively positioned at a plurality of guideways, and

(d) means associated with each of said sets of guideways accurately to successively position the banding -apparatus relative thereto, where-by a plurality of spaced apart bands 0f banding material may be placed about said package.

9. Apparatusas defined in claim 8 in which the press box is equipped with a pivoted side door, said banding apparatus being mounted for movement along the door side of the press box, said mounting means for said traveling banding apparatus being constructed and arranged to permit the banding apparatus to be moved past the non-pivoted side of the door and clear of the door, whereby the door may be opened in normal operation of the press without interference by the banding apparatus.

10. In apparatus for banding packages wherein at least two securing bands are to be placed about the package,

(a) a package banding station including at least twd sets of guide means thereat disposed to guide lengths of banding material to cause it to surround a package thereon,

(b) band feeding apparatus having means thereon effective to insert banding material into said guides,

(c) means t0 position the banding material for strap feeding into said guides, and

(d) the number of said sets of guideways exceeding the number of band feeding mechanisms by at least one.

11. In apparatus for banding packages of inherently springy, fibrous material while the same is held under compression in baling apparatus having at least one door, which door is closed during baling and is opened to discharge the b-anded bale,

(a) a plurality of sets of guide members for banding material spaced along the package, each set of `which includes guide means effective to enable a length of banding material fed endwise thereinto to encircle the package,

(b) means to feed banding material into said guides,

(c) means mounting said feeding means for reciprocation along and in front of doorway when said press box door is open and into and out of banding material feeding position successively relative to said guides, and

(d) means to shift said band feeding means to a position laterally removed from said door whereby, after banding and securing said material the thus secured package may be removed from the baling apparatus through said doorway without interference by the banding means.

12. In apparatus for baling fibers including a fiber accumulating and compressing chamber, together with means to secure about said compressed bale of fibers a plurality of spaced apart bands while in said chamber comprising:

(a) banding apparatus including a plurality of stationary sets of spaced apart banding material guides and a movable banding material feed mechanism,

(b) means to shift the banding apparatus in positionl for feeding banding material into said guides whereby a plurality of bands is placed about said package, and

(c) means to shift said banding apparatus essentially horizontally and out of alignment with the planes in which the bands lie after being placed about the package, whereby said banding apparatus may be moved out of operating position relative to the chamber, and to a position clear of the same, permitting the bale to be discharged from the chamber by moving it into and through the space occupied by the banding apparatus while it was positioned to feed said banding material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,838,992 6/1958 Demler. 3,014,494 12/1961 Scott et al.

BILLY l. WILHITE, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 53-198 Disclaimer 3,521,550.-D0nalcl W. Van Doorn and William C'. Pease III, Columbus, and Jack L. Uolguet, Hamilton, Ga., Jack H. Tifakler, Phenix City, Ala., and Ted E. Huguley, Columbus, Ga. BALE STRAPPING APPA- RATUS. Patent dated July 21, 1970. Disclaimer filed Dec. 13, 1971, by the assignee, L'wmmus Cotton Gin Company. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 7 10 and 12 of said patent.

[Ojcz'al Gazette J ulg 11,1972] 

